Saintpaulia plant named `Halo`

ABSTRACT

A distinctive cultivar of Saintpaulia plant named `Halo`, characterized by its compact plant habit; moderate growth rate; durable dark green foliage; pink and purple bi-color flowers; and numerous long-lasting flowers.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSaintpaulia or African Violet, botanically known as Saintpauliaionantha, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Halo`. It isanticipated that the plant of this application will be marketed underthe Trademark "Ultra Violet". Accordingly, the plant of this applicationmay be referred to as "Ultra Violet" `Halo` in the market place.

The new cultivar if a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Oberlin, Ohio. The objective of the breeding program wasto develop compact and durable Saintpaulia varieties with numerous,upright, long-lasting flowers and uniform flowering.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of theSaintpaulia cultivar "Ultra Violet" `Luminous`, U.S. Plant patentapplication, Ser. No. 08/671,571, with light pink flowers, as the maleor pollen parent, with an unnamed proprietary seeding selection withlight pink flowers, as the female or seed parent. The cultivar Halo wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Oberlin,Ohio.

In side-by-side comparisons in Oberlin, Ohio, under commercial practice,plants of the new Saintpaulia had more compact growth habit and darkerpink flower color than either Saintpaulia parent.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leaf cuttings taken atOberin, Ohio, has shown that the unique features of this new Saintpauliaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Halo`. These characteristics incombination distinguish the new Saintpaulia plant as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Compact plant habit.

2. Moderate growth rate.

3. Durable dark green foliage.

4. Pink and purple bi-color flowers that are held upright.

5. Numerous long-lasting flowers.

The new Sainpaulia plant has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature and light level, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Flower andfoliage colors may appear different from the actual colors due to lightreflectance. The photograph comprises a top perspective view of atypical potted plant of `Halo`.

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Oberlin, Ohio, under a double layer ofpolyethylene covering with average day and night temperatures of 21C andan average light level of 1,500 foot-candles.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Saintpaulia ionantha cultivar `Halo`.

Commercial.--Saintpaulia or African Violet.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Saintpaulia ionantha cultivar "Ultra Violet"`Luminous`, U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 08/671,571.

Female or seed parent.--Unnamed priprietary seedling selection withlight pink flowers.

Plant description:

Plant form.--Leaves outwardly arching, flowers held upright and abovethe foliage.

Growth habit and rate.--Moderately vigorous, yet compact. Suitable for10-cm containers. Time to produce a finished flowering plant in a 10-cmcontainer from a rooted plantlet is generally 8 to 10 weeks depending ontemperature, light level, and cultural practices.

Height, soil level to top of leaves.--About 3 cm.

Height, soil level to top of flowers.--About 8 cm.

Distance, top of leaves to top of flowers.--About 5 cm.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.--Rosette.

Leaf appearance.--"Plain" or "tailored" foliage.

Quantity of leaves.--About 20 per 4-inch pot.

Leaf size, largest leaves.--Length: About 5.5 cm. Width: About 5 cm.

Leaf shape.--Cordate.

Leaf tip.--Acute.

Leaf base.--Cordate, overlapping.

Margin type.--Crenate.

Leaf surface.--Slightly undulating.

Texture.--Leathery, glossy, pubescent, durable.

Pubescence.--Moderate on both upper and under sides.

Venation pattern.--Pinnate

Color.--Young foliage: Upper side: Darker than 147A. Under side: 59AVenation upper side: Darker than 147A. Venation under side: 59A. Maturefoliage: Upper side: Darker than 147A. Under side: 59A. Venation upperside: Darker than 147A. Venation under side: 59A.

Petiole.--Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm. Shape: Tubular.Pubescence: Moderate. Aspect: Horizontal. Color: 59A.

Flower description:

Flower arrangement.--Branched panicle, flowers held upright and abovethe foliage.

Flower appearance.--Single, frilled, fused corolla with five petals. Twoupper petals usually smaller than lower three petals. Pink and purplebicolor, pink in center surrounded by 2 to 4 mm speckled purple outermargin.

Flower longevity.--Individual flowers last approximately 7 to 10 days.Inflorescences are generally in flower for approximately 3 to 4 weeksunder greenhouse conditions. Flowers persistent.

Quantity of flowers per peduncle.--Generally 7 to 10 open flowers andflower buds at a time are present, usually 3 to 4 per panicle branch.

Flower diameter.--About 3.5 cm.

Flower depth, base of calyx to upper petal surface.--About 3.5 mm.

Petals.--Appearance: Velvety, satiny. Texture: Smooth. Arrangement: Fivefused into a corolla, overlapping. Upper two petals smaller than lowerthree petals. Shape: Ovate, rounded. Margin: Frilled or ruffled.Surface: Flat, edges ruffled. Tip: Rounded.

Size.--Largest petals, length: About 1.8 cm. Largest petals, width:About 1.5 cm. Smallest petals, length: About 1.3 cm. Smallest petals,width: About 1.4 cm.

Color.--When opening: Base: 77A. Center: 77B. Outer edges: 77A,speckled. Upper side: Base: 77A. Center: 77B. Outer edges: 77A,speckled. Under side: Base and center: 77C with 77B radiating from thebase to the edge. Outer edges: 77B.

Peduncle.--Length: About 5 cm. Diameter, at base: About 3 mm. Strength:Strong. Angle: Erect. Pubescence: Moderate. Color: Base: 183A. Apex:187A.

Flower bed, just before opening.--Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 7mm. Form or shape: Spherical. Rate of opening: Rapid. Color: 7A withgreen tinge.

Calyx/sepals.--Calyx shape: Star-shaped. Calyx size: Height: About 7 mm.Width: About 1 cm. Sepal shape: Linear. Sepal arrangement: Fused atbase. Sepal size: Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Sepal texture:Pubescent. Sepal number: 5. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal tip: Pointed.Sepal color: Upper side: 187A. Under side: 187A.

Stamens, mature flower.--Stamen number: 2. Anther size: Length: About 3mm. Width: About 3 mm. Height: About 2 mm. Anther color: 7A. Filamentlength: About 3 mm. Filament color: White with pink tinge.

Pistils.--Pistil number: 1. Style color: 77A. Style length: About 4 mm.Receptacle height: About 3 mm. Receptacle width: About 2 mm.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance orsusceptibility to pathogens of Saintpaulias has not been observed.

Seed production: Seed production is rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Saintpaulia plant named `Halo`, as